F2025 Maneuvers

International Army Programs

In the Spotlight

Gen. Perkins, hosted a delegation from Israel to participate in the 26th Future Battlefield Annual Talks

Fort Eustis, Virginia – Gen. David G. Perkins, Commanding General of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, hosted a delegation from Israel to participate in the 26th Future Battlefield Annual Talks, or FBAT, 4-8 June 2017.

TRADOC’s relationship with the Israel Defense Forces began in 1973 following the Yom Kippur War, leading to the FBAT’s initiation in 1988. The TRADOC commanding general has served as U.S. head of delegation since 1990. Each year, FBAT is held alternately between locations in the U.S. and Israel.

In addition to the TRADOC commanding general, this year's U.S. delegation also included Sgt. Maj. David Davenport, TRADOC’s command Sgt. Maj.; LTG Sean McFarland, Deputy Commanding General TRADOC; LTG Michael Lundy, Commanding General U.S Army Combined Arms Center and MG Robert “Bo” Dyess, Acting Director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center. The delegation also included leadership from the Maneuver, Fires, Sustainment, Maneuver Support, Aviation, Intelligence and Mission Command Centers of Excellence and selected school commandants.

Maj. Gen. Yacov Barak, Chief of the IDF Ground Forces, served as the Israeli head of delegation.

The Future Battlefield Annual Talks XXVI delegation at Fort Eustis, VA for the plenary session phase of the FBAT. The FBAT head of delegation included Gen. Perkins and Maj. Gen. Barak (center).

From 4-6 June, IDF Ground Forces Delegates visited their counterparts at Maneuver, CYBER, Fires, Mission Command, and Maneuver Support Centers of Excellence to gain insights into the curriculum, technology and techniques used to train U.S. Soldiers. The counterparts shared their army's respective approaches and lessons on a wide range of warfighting themes. These engagements provided the opportunity for the representatives of each Army to share their approaches and lessons learned to develop leaders and maintain the edge against adversaries. During the "counterpart days," GEN Perkins and MG Barak visited the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, GA. While at Fort Benning, they engaged Captains participating in the Maneuver Captain Career Course. This was one of the highlights of MG Barak’s visit. The young officers reminded him of his own junior leaders. From there, they visited Wood Simulation Center to observe the Common Driver Trainer (CDT), Call for fire trainer (CFFT), Long Range Advanced Scout Sensor LRAS Training, and Engagement Skills Trainer (EST2). The last stop was Clarke Simulation Center where they observed the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS), Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3), Conduct of Fire Trainer (COFT), and Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT). MG Barak commented that had envisioned a simulation capability for the IDF Ground Forces and was amazed that it already existed at Fort Benning. They finished the day with a tour and dinner in the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. The next day MG Barak and GEN Perkins visited a stress shoot to observe gender integration in a field environment.

The culminating plenary session had the IDF and the IDF and US Army delegates presenting a series of briefs with discussion on a wide range of topics. The US delegation covered Russian New Generation Warfare, Multi Domain Battle, Cyber Branch developments, and Tactical Command Posts, while the IDF covered their Digital Army Program, Logistics developments and what they are calling the spherical threat. MG Barak also described the significant force generation and organizational improvements underway to increase readiness across their joint force. GEN Perkins reiterated the importance of FBAT to the U.S. Army and how TRADOC greatly values the long standing partnership with the IDF Ground Forces.

The plenary session ended with GEN Perkins and MG Barak co-signing a memorandum codifying the next FBAT and the 2017-2018 CoE military-to-military agreed-to-actions.

The FBAT concluded on 8 June 17 with a cultural visit to Yorktown Battlefield Historical Park. GEN Perkins and MG Barak participated in a cannon firing demonstration while at the Battlefield Park.

The Israelis will host the 27th annual FBAT in 2018. This critical engagement remains a premier learning venue that benefits both the IDF and the U.S. Army. Furthermore, the FBAT continues to demonstrate the long-standing partnership and commitment between the Armies.

Israel Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States, visit to TRADOC HQ

Major General Michael Edelstein, Israel Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to
the United States, received a warm welcome from the General Perkins,
Commanding General TRADOC on his first visit to TRAD
[...]

Mission

IAPD manages and coordinates TRADOC international activities to synchronize the exchange of DOTMLPF-P information with Army Service Component Command (ASCC) priority countries, including allies and treaty partners, in order to enhance current and future operational capabilities; increase interoperability; and build partnerships.

Overview

The International Army Programs Directorate (IAPD) is responsible for Title 10 Security Cooperation Activities and the guiding annual TRADOC Campaign Support Plan. IAPD directs TRADOC's OCONUS Liaison Officer Program covering 11 allied nations and 5 Army Service Component Commands (ASCC). Additionally, IAPD manages TRADOC's Military Personnel Exchange and Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO) Programs. There are 78 FLOs from 17 countries assigned to HQ TRADOC, the Centers of Excellence, and their Branch Schools. IAPD also programs, plans, coordinates, and executes TRADOC support to ASCC Theater Security Cooperation Plans, Army-Army and TRADOC level bilateral staff talks, and distinguished foreign visits. Lastly, IAPD provides opportunities to integrate and expand bilateral partner nation and alliance contributions to ARCIC's concepts and capabilities development activities in order to strengthen coalition capabilities.

Key Initiatives

IAPD's efforts in completing the Building Partner Capacity Concept (TRADOC PAM 525-8-4) and Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) established the foundation for the recently approved "Engagement" Warfighting Function (WfF) being led by US Army Special Operations Command. The directorate will continue to represent the Building Partnerships Joint Capability Area to integrate security cooperation related required capabilities, gaps, and solutions into the Army's Capabilities Needs Analysis process until the Engagement WfF CBA is complete. IAPD will also facilitate several efforts focused on interoperability to include: